The Return of the Leading Ladies

Today marks the first official full day of summer. It's been a long time coming but the season is officially here. Growing up I always spent my summers chilling in nature with my best friend Isabelle jamming out to whatever classic summer tunes we were obsessed with. Good music always sets the tone as a soundtrack for a great summer. So many artists are releasing their CDs in hopes to be the summer song everyone has on repeat. However for me there are two ladies I am so happy are back on the scene. Every girl (or at least me and Isabelle) went through a Fiona Apple and Cat Power phase growing up. I remember the first time I heard the song Free by Cat Power. Isabelle introduced it to me and it blew my world. I was instantly obsessed with the honest grit soaked with Blues in her voice. I can't tell you how many times I have listened to Fiona Apples song Sullen Girl, that song definitely got me through puberty haha. Followed by basically every songs she has ever made, I was and still am obsessed with Apple. After both these artists have been on a hiatus from releasing new music for years I am SO delighted both wonderfully talented women have returned with new sounds and amazing sounds at that. Below is Fiona Apple performing on Jimmy Fallon with The Roots. Apple performed the song Anything We Want off her new album The Idler Wheel is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cord Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do. Followed by Cat Powers new song Ruin off her new album Sun. I cannot wait to listen to both these albums I already know they will be the soundtrack to my summer. 

My weekend

This past weekend I had a lot happening for both my jobs. I covered the Wassaic Project Summer Benefit for the newspaper and got to DJ at he Lantern Inn on Saturday night. With Fathers Day on top of that I was exhausted by Sunday. But I took lots of photos with my iphone and canon rebel that I wanted to share. Some snaps of where I have been and new people I have encountered during my weekend adventures. 

I am crazy for artist Ghost of a Dream's work. I first saw his instillation at the 2011 Wassaic Project Summer Festival with Remember When Tomorrow, which you can see how much I adored it in this photo. But Ghost of a Dream pieces were shown at the benefit as a preview to the Summer Festival which I cannot wait for in August!

I took this photo for the paper and really liked the way the lighting came out.

I had the pleasure of meeting legendary artist Ultra Violet at the Benefit as well. I am embarrassed to say I didn't know thats who she was when I met her! But she was quick to let me know and I soon found out she was one of Andy Warhol's muses and worked for Salvador Deli, oh my! She was quite fabulous and I may have redeemed myself when she said she liked my sandalls!

I also met her friend designer Gemma Kahng!

My friend Stephanie snapped this photo of me DJing Saturday night with Dustin. First time I had a set with another DJ, it was so much fun! Also peep the vintage lime green corset I got at Pumpkin House in Millbrook, NY.

As all Father's days should go and basically every day my family BBQ at Macedonia State Park. Yum!

 My brother came home for fathers day as well which was fun but I had even more fun with the friends he brought along. We look like we are blooming out the tree.

Kent Falls is the place to be during this time of year. 

Her name is Mookie. That is all. 

Happy Fathers Day, Dad! 

Girls will be Girls

I am obsessed with HBOs new series Girls. After hearing about all the hype I finally spent two days watching every episode of the first season and now can't believe the season finale is already here. This show is so well written by the talented and young Lena Dunham. What I love about this show is that all the characters although they stem from characters we have seen in other shows (Sex in the City, Gossip Girls) they each have depth and don't fall into the typical archetypes they might usually for me. Although the female stars of the show have been getting a lot of the recognition I want to shout out the boys of girls. I  think the complexity of the leading male Adam makes the show really addicting. The fact that the boys don't fall in to that "bro" category that most men on television have portrayed recently make it a refreshing show. Of coarse HBO knows how to keep things fresh and current in their shows too with their references to pop culture and music which I appreciate. But most of all the show is really funny, especially the"crackcident" episode.
My only problem with the show which I expressed via twitter this week is the lack of diversity. Like there are no people of color and they live in Brooklyn, say what? I love this show because its about my generation which is girls in their early twenties trying to make sense of life after college but before real adult life.  I still relate to this show despite the girls being a different skin tone then me because we go through the same emotions and experiences that all girls of this age go through. However when will there be a show about young, interesting, talented, cool girls of color were the girl isn't the token or is in the show at all. It makes it seem like girls of different races don't matter or don't need to be represented on television. Which is disappointing and sad.
I think that television even more so than movies still has yet to wrap their heads around the concept of how to represent young women of color on television without making it seem cliche or forced diversity. Regardless of my rant I freaking love Girls and I think Lena Dunham is wonderful as an actress and writer. As an aspiring writer instead of complaining about what Girls is lacking I am going to be active and make my own change. Who knows maybe I will write a show about African American, African or Caribbean girls in 2012. Lets just say I have officially been inspired.

                                                                via blog.1800cabletv

Blog Lovin

So apologies are in order for my blogging hiatus. I have no real excuse for my absence other than I simply fell out of the weekly groove of blogging for a couple weeks and was focused on other things. But I am definitely back and what better way to return than with some blog loving. One of my best friends from studying abroad in South Africa Adam Anderson recently started his own blog the The Posdog Blog. Adam ever since I have met him has spread the message of feeding your positive dog to everyone he knows. Feeding your positive dog is a metaphor for living a positive life. Anytime anyone ever complained in South Africa he always said feed the positive dog. Adam also has an ear for wonderful music of all genres but especially hip hop. I rely on him for exposing me to new artists and he posts all of his musical discoveries on his blog for everyone to enjoy. Adam recently asked me to be his first ever interviewee for his blog and of coarse I happily accepted. The interview is below and you can check out the original post here.